Fuel atomizer



March 26, 1957 H. c. BECK, JR

FUEL momma Filed April 5, 1955 INVENTOR HOWARD c. BECK, Jr.

ATTORNEY nited States The present invention relates to fuel atomizers adapted for use in an internal combustion engine intake down stream from the carburetor but upstream from the throttle valve.

Many types of fuel atomizers have been used in the prior art at this point, most of which include one or more fan type screens rotatably mounted to be driven by the gas flow in the intake, and to break up the fuel particles in the mixture by passing them thru the screen blades as well as by a whipping or egg-beater action of the blades on the mixture.

The object of the present invention is to provide means in the intake manifold to effectively break up any particles of fuel in the mixture issuing from the carburetor and improve the distribution in the mixture entering the engine from the intake manifold.

A further object is to rotatably mount a disc in the intake manifold centrally across the flow from the carburetor venturi, covering substantially half the cross-sectional area of the manifold at this point, said disc having a perforated peripheral collar, and being provided with spirally formed scoops on its downstream side extending into the annular space around the disc, to cause the gas stream to react against these scoops and revolve said disc at high speed while diffusing the gas mixture toward the center of the manifold behind the disc, the perforated collar thus effecting excellent atomnization of the fuel particles as they are deflected and thrown centrifugally by the spinning disc against and through the collar.

A further object is to use a double venturi in the carburetor to help this atomization by more effective preliminary diffusion.

A further object is to provide a bulge in the manifold around this atomizer so as to reduce the restriction in the cross-sectional area of the flow at this point due to the blocking effect of the disc.

A further object is to provide ball bearings for this atomizer to reduce friction and obtain high speeds of rotation.

A further object is to support the bearing for this atomizer by spider legs extending from the wall of the manifold and making one of these legs hollow for conducting lubricant to the hearing from outside of the manifold.

A further object is to form a flanged coupling adjacent the bulge in the manifold mentioned above, for convenience in assembly or servicing of this atomizer.

Other and more specific objects will become apparent in the following detailed description of this invention, having reference to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view thru the intake 2,736,744 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 manifold at the carburetor of the downdraft type, incorporating a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a double venturi form of carburetor of the downdraft type, the outer venturi 10 being held in place by spider legs 11 centrally of the intake manifold 12, and the inner venturi 13 is held by spider legs 14 extending from the outer venturi. Fuel is supplied and metered from the carburetor float chamber (not shown) to the inner venturi through conduit 15.

Just below or downstream form these venturis is the atomizer 16, which is mounted in ball-bearings 27 for rotation about bolt 18 held centrally of the manifold 12 by spider legs 19. The ball-bearings are shown lubricated by an oil cup 20 on the outside of the manifold connected by tube 21 inclined downwardly to the bearings. Tube 21 may be conveniently replaced by a hollow leg 19 (not shown), if desired.

The atomizer 16 comprises a disc 22 occupying substantially half the cross-sectional area of the manifold, having a peripheral perforated collar 23, and spirally formed scoops or vanes 24 which may be fixed to a cup shaped shell 27 on the downstream side of said disc 22, said vanes extending into the annular space 25 around the disc 22. These vanes are formed in such a manner as to react with the gas flow through said space and turn the atomizer at high speed, while at the same time diffuse the gases toward the center of the manifold on the downstream end of the vanes. As the atomizer spins around the fuel particles in the stream from the venturis strike the disc 22 and are deflected and thrown centrifugally against the perforations in collar 23, thus being effectively atomized as they are forced through the perforations at high speeds. As they are atomized they are thoroughly mixed with the annular air stream already mixed with some of the vaporized fuel leaving the venturis.

The manifold may be bulged out at the vaporizer as shown in Figure l, to reduce the amount of restriction therein caused by the disc 22 of the vaporizer.

The manifold may further be coupled at this point, as shown in the drawing by means of a flanged joint 26, to facilitate assembly and servicing of the atomizer.

The details shown in the drawing illustrate only one form of the invention, there being many obvious moditications that may be made in the arrangement and detail forms of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel atomizer for a carburetor having a venturi, comprising a rotatably mounted disc in the gas stream downstream from said venturi, vanes on the downstream side of said disc extending outwardly into the gas stream around said disc for reaction therewith to spin said disc, a perforated collar around the periphery of said disc to thoroughly atomize any fuel particles that may remain unatomized by said venturi.

2. A fuel atomizer as defined in claim 1, said rotatably mounted disc being provided with ball-bearings to reduce friction to a minimum.

3. A fuel atomizer as defined in claim 2, and lubrica- 7 tion means on the outside of the manifold connected by a tube to said ball-bearings.

4. A fuel atomizer as defined in claim 3, wherein the ball-bearings are supported from the wall of said manifold by spider legs, one of which is hollow to provide said tube connection.

5. A fuel atomizer as defined in claim 1, said venturi being a multiple venturi to improve atomization.

6. A fuel atomizer as defined in claim 1, said intake manifold having a bulged out portion around said disc and being coupled at this bulged out portion by a flanged joint to facilitate mounting and servicing of said atomizer.

7. A fuelatomizer as defined in claim 1, a cup shaped shell on the downstream side of said disc opened at its bottom, said vanes being fixed to and following the contour of said cup to said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,302 Hansen et a1 Dec. 14, 1920 1,406,113 Van Voorhis et a1 Feb. 7, 1925 1,861,297 Bristow May 31, 1932 1,865,076 Barry June 28, 1932 2,115,077 Kommer Apr. 26, 1938 

1. A FUEL ATOMIZER FOR A CARBURETOR HAVING A VENTURI, COMPRISING A ROTATABLY MOUNTED DISC IN THE GAS STREAM DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID VENTURI, VANES ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF SAID DISC EXTENDING OUTWARDLY INTOT THE GAS STREAM AROUND SAID DISC FOR REACTION THEREWITH TO SPIN SAID DISC, A PERFORATED COLLAR AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISC TO THOROUGHLY ATOMIZE ANY FUEL PARTICLES THAT MAY REMAIN UNATOMIZED BY SAID VENTURI. 